Japan Online Casino Law 2026
Penal Code · 2025 Advertising Ban · Offshore Sites · Integrated Resorts
Quick Take
- Under Japan’s Penal Code, private gambling is illegal, and playing at an online casino is illegal even if the site is licensed abroad.
- An amendment passed on 18 June 2025 and in force from 25 September 2025 bans opening online casino sites and publishing information that steers people to them, including ads, affiliate links and ranking sites.
- A March 2025 police survey estimated 3.37 million people in Japan had gambled at online casinos, spending about ¥1.24 trillion a year.
📌 Informational guide: this page explains the law in Japan. Cocktailspins does not list, rank or link to gambling operators for players in Japan. Rules change — follow updates in our Regulation Tracker.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Japan?
No. Japan’s Penal Code makes privately operated gambling a crime, and Japanese authorities have been clear that this covers online casinos even when the site or app operates legally in another country. Simple gambling is punishable by a fine of up to ¥500,000 under Article 185, and habitual gambling by up to three years’ imprisonment under Article 186. What is legal is limited to state-sanctioned activities: lotteries and betting on publicly operated horse, bicycle, boat and motorcycle races.
The 2025 Ban on Ads and Guidance
Japan’s parliament approved an amendment on 18 June 2025 to its law on gambling addiction countermeasures. In force from 25 September 2025, it prohibits opening or offering online casino sites and apps, and bans information that lures people to online casinos, whether domestic or foreign. That covers banner ads, social media posts, affiliate links, ranking sites and influencer endorsements. The government and local authorities are also asked to tell the public that online casino gambling is illegal.
The Scale of the Problem
A police survey released in March 2025 estimated that about 3.37 million people in Japan had gambled at online casinos, spending around ¥1.24 trillion (about US$8.7 billion) a year. The government also reportedly asked eight jurisdictions that license online casinos — Canada, Costa Rica, Georgia, Malta, Anjouan, Curaçao, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar — to block Japanese users.
Integrated Resorts
Japan’s only route to legal casino gambling is the integrated resort (IR) system for land-based casinos. The first, MGM Osaka, is set to open by 2030. The IR framework does not cover online casinos.
Crypto
Crypto exchanges in Japan must be registered with the Financial Services Agency under the Payment Services Act. Paying an offshore casino in crypto does not change the legal position of the bet. For how stablecoin transfers work, see our USDT TRC20 explainer.
Our Position
Japanese law now explicitly bans steering people to online casinos, and this page does not list or link to any. If gambling is causing harm, BeGambleAware offers free, confidential guidance, and our Responsible Gambling Score explains what good player protection looks like.
FAQ
Is it legal to play at online casinos in Japan?
No. Under the Penal Code, online casino gambling is illegal in Japan even if the site is licensed in another country.
What did Japan change in 2025?
An amendment in force from 25 September 2025 bans opening online casino sites and publishing ads, affiliate links, ranking sites or other content that steers people to them.
What gambling is legal in Japan?
Lotteries and betting on publicly operated horse, bicycle, boat and motorcycle races. Land-based casinos are planned within integrated resorts, the first by 2030.
How many people in Japan gamble online?
A March 2025 police survey estimated 3.37 million people had gambled at online casinos, spending about 1.24 trillion yen a year.